David James ShearerMBE (born 28 July 1957) is a New Zealand politician and former United Nations worker. He spent nearly 20 years working for the UN, managing the provision of aid to countries including Somalia, Rwanda, Liberia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Iraq.[1] In 1992, Shearer was named (together with his wife) as New Zealander of the Year by the New Zealand Herald.[2] The following year he was appointed as Member of the British Empire (MBE) in the British New Years Honours list. In 2009 he won the Mount Albert by-election becoming a Member of the Parliament of New Zealand for the Labour Party. He was the leader of the Labour Party from December 2011 to August 2013. He currently serves as the party spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Energy & Resources.

Between 1987 and 1989 he was a consultant for the Tainui Trust Board assisting with the preparation of its land claims to the Waitangi Tribunal. In 1989 he was appointed as UN Co-ordinator for Humanitarian Operations in Africa and the Balkans and served as head of the Save the Children Fund in Rwanda, Somalia, Northern Iraq and Sri Lanka.[1] In 1995 he served as the Senior Humanitarian Affairs Adviser in Liberia.[4] From 1999 Shearer served in various UN posts including Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for the United Nations in Rwanda, Senior Humanitarian Adviser in Albania and Chief of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Belgrade.[4] He then left the United Nations to work as an adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Phil Goff for two years.

In 2002 Shearer returned to the United Nations, serving as a Senior Adviser to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.[4] In February 2003 Shearer was appointed head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Jerusalem.[4] During the conflict in Lebanon in 2006 he served as the Humanitarian Coordinator organising assistance for civilians caught up in the conflict between Israeli and Lebanon.[5]

Before his election as a Member of Parliament Shearer had twice previously stood for the Labour party: in 1999 he stood as a list-only candidate and in 2002 he unsuccessfully contested the Whangarei electorate. In May 2009 he returned to New Zealand and won the Labour Party nomination for Mount Albert against seven other candidates.[7] He then won the 2009 Mt Albert by-election on 13 June 2009 with 13,260 votes, a majority of 9,718 over National's Melissa Lee.[8] Shearer extended his majority over Lee to 10,021 in the 2011 general election.[9]

In November 2012 during a Labour Party conference, media speculation suggested that economic development spokesperson David Cunliffe would launch a challenge against Shearer for leadership of the party.[11] On the morning of 19 November, Cunliffe confirmed he was not challenging Shearer, and would indeed back him if a vote was taken. However, he also said he would not commit to supporting Mr Shearer when he faces a formal confidence vote in February 2013. Media speculation about Cunliffe's intentions marred Mr Shearer's first 12 months as leader.[12] Labour MPs unanimously endorsed leader Shearer at the annual caucus, and Shearer subsequently demoted Cunliffe from the front bench.[13]

Shearer announced his resignation as Labour leader on 22 August 2013, stating that: "My sense is I no longer have the full confidence of many of my caucus colleagues".[14][15] Following a party-wide leadership election, Cunliffe was elected Shearer's successor over Deputy Leader Robertson.[16]